Regions

Christmas Island rises to a central plateau of stands of rainforest. Its 80km coastline is an almost continuous sea cliff up to 20 metres high, with a few shallow bays of small sand and coral shingle beaches. The largest of these forms the island's only port, Flying Fish Cove.

Settled Areas on Christmas Island

Settlement

Kampong

Silver City

Poon Saan

Drumsite

Other destinations

Cocos Keeling Island (Closest land to Christmas Island).

Understand

Named in 1643 for the day of its discovery, the island was annexed and settlement was begun by the UK in 1888. Phosphate mining began in the 1890s. The UK transferred sovereignty to Australia in 1958. Almost two-thirds of the island has been declared a national park.

The Australian Government in 2001 agreed to support the creation of a commercial space-launching site on the island, which now looks unlikely to proceed after funding was withdrawn.

Climate

Tropical; heat and humidity moderated by trade winds.

Landscape

Steep cliffs along coast rise abruptly to central plateau. Rain forest covers the majority of the island, with small areas of the island under rehabilitation from mining. Sandy to Rocky beaches scattered along the coastline of the island separated by steep limestone cliffs.

Get in

By plane

Twice weekly flights from Perth, Australia with National Jet Systems, who also offer a connecting flight to the Cocos Islands. Oneway/return is A$840/$1680, with advance purchase returns available for $1098.

Australian Indian Ocean Territories Airlines[3] offers the only international flight on a chartered Malaysia Airlines aircraft from Kuala Lumpur and Singapore every Saturday.

By boat

There is no passenger chartered boat services to Christmas Island, however Flying Fish Cove are frequented by yachts and cruise ships as a stop off.

See

Dales

The Dales comprises of numerous freshwater streams running roughly parallel to each other. The stream source originate from underground caves eventually flows into the ocean. The streams over the length of time, have worn out gullies between the cliff walls of the coast, and have created unusually step-like formations (terraces). There is a waterfall above the terrace formations, vistors are often fond of taking showers under the waterfall.

The Dales are located in lush tropical rainforest and is well known for it's unique fauna, such as the Blue Crab and Blind Snake and flora such as giant buttrest root trees.

The Dales areas have signage and raised walkways/steps installed by National Parks for vistors and tourists.

Located in the national park at the south west portion of the island. The Dales can only be reach via 4-Wheels Drive and treking by foot.

Lily Beach

Tragically named after a girl which was swept off the rocks at the beach never to be found. The beach comprises of a sandy area running down to a bathing pool, the pool is seperated from the open ocean by rocky basalt/limestone outcrops. The pool is constantly fed sea water from the gullies leading to the ocean and the whitewash generated from the waves hitting the cliffs and outcrop.

Caution is advised when venturing pass the bathing pool on to the rocky outcrops, as large freak waves have known to swamp the rocky outcrops. Least you meet the same fate as Lily!

Located in the 'snout of the dog' eastern part of the island, this beach can be access by normal 2 wheel drive vehicles when road conditions are dry and only 4 Wheel Drive when roads are wet.

Wooden pagola and BBQ facilities are avaliable.

Blowholes

A geological feature located along the steep limestones cliffs along the southern coastline of the island, the Blowholes comprises of holes in the ground where air and seawater are blown out due to waves crashing into caves formed along the bottom of the cliffs. Depending on wave conditions, the water and trapped air in the caves are forced out from the holes formed at the top of the cliff caves, leading to spectacular plumes of water thrown up into the air. Distinctive sound of gushing air can heard from the holes when the waves crash onto the cliffs.

A white sandy beach sheltered and ringed by black basalt outcrops 5 meters from the shoreline. The rear of the beach are lined with overhanging coconut trees, there is a clear stream flowing through the middle of the beach from the cliffs above.

A fairly scenic beach, this is a favorite camping site for locals and visitors alike, due to availability of drinkable freshwater from the stream and 'exotic secluded beach paradise' ambiance.

Dolly beach is also a favorite nesting locations for endangered sea turtles, is it very common on most nights to have one or more turtles make their way up onto the beach from the sea, and lay their eggs into holes dug by the turtles themselves. After laying the eggs, the turtle refills the hole with sand and make their way back to the sea. Witnessing this event is magically and memorable.

Margaret Knoll

Nursery Lookout

Flying Fish Cove

Administrators House known locally as "Buck House"

Historical World War 2 Artillery Bunker past the Buck House

South Point

Greta Beach

Freshwater Caves

Grotto

West White Beaches

Ethel Beach

Waterfall/Casino

Do

View the spectacular world famous Christmas Island Red Crab Migration during the December - February months.

Diving or Snorkeling off the 'Drop Off' at Flying Fish Cove

Whale Shark Watching

Game Fishing on chartered boat

Rock Fishing

Caving (Warning - Seek local advice before setting out to any caves)

4- Wheel Driving, known locally as 'Bush bashing'

Mountain Biking

Relax by the beach or on the patio with a cold beer

Duty Free cheap drinks at numerous bars and taverns on the island

Historical Trail Self Tours

Hiking

Get around

Walk, ride, or hire of cars/4WD/SUV. You can hike around the settled areas of island, as most locals are happy to give a ride to visitors.

Talk

As a territory of Australia, English is the most common language spoken on Christmas Island, but is not universal. Many senior residents speak dialects of Chinese and Malay as a first language. All signs are in English.

Buy

The Island has "duty free" status, and shop prices for perfume and alcohol are very low compared to the Australian mainland.

Gaze Road Settlement. The Rumah Tinggi offers modern Australian fare, fine wine and cocktails. With uninterrupted views of the Indian Ocean and a spacious open air verandah - the perfect location to watch the sunset or the moon rise over the Indian Ocean. Bar open 5pm till late - Dinner - 9 pm. Closed Tuesday and Wednesday.
Contact :Mark or Kaz on + 61 8 9164 7667

Sleep

Seven possibilities for accommodation exist on the island, five of which are in the main settlement. Of the other two, one is located next to the island's waterfall whilst the other is further out in an area called Poon Saan.

Learn

Christmas Island District High School is the main school on the island, Year 1 to Year 10 is taught based on the Western Australian Curriculum.

Work

It is difficult for non-locals to find employment on Christmas Island. The largest employers on the island are the small scale phosphate mining and federal/local government.

The most common way of obtaining employment on Christmas Island for non-locals is to check government positions advertised on the Australian mainland (Federal Government Employment Gazette), there are occasionally posting for teachers on several years contract from Australia.

National Parks, Federal Police and positions related to the Detention Center are occasional advertised on Newspaper and Government Gazette.

Stay safe

The island is safe all times of the day in the populated areas, locals usually leave their houses and car unlocked. There is no poisonous or dangerous animals/insects on the island.

The most likely danger is large waves at cliffs and coastal waters during the monsoon(October - February).

There are occasional sighting of reef and hammerhead sharks off the coast near the 'drop offs' (underwater coastal shelf which drops off into the ocean depths, usually 5 - 30 meters offshore) , however there have been no reported sharks attacks on Christmas Island in recorded history.

Some 4 Wheel Drive tracks are steep and slippery during the wet season, caution is advised when driving in national parks areas. Many tracks are 4 Wheel Drive only, in particular Dolly beach track and Dales and Blow Holes National Park areas. 4 Wheel driving experience required when venturing into these areas.

It is recommended that you bring a local or get local advice before heading off to any unpopulated national park areas.

Stay healthy

Wear loose fitting clothing suitable for humid tropical climates. A hat and suncream is recommended if you're intending to be under the sun at the beach or fishing.

Bring water with you, as in a humid environment you will tend to perspire more than normal.

Mosquito repellent should be brought on trips to rain forest areas, no instances of Malaria have ever been reported in recent history.

There are rare occurrences of Hepatitis A & B. However there is no particular vaccination required when visiting the island.

Contact

Get out

Cocos Island is the closest land to Christmas island, there are weekly connecting flight between the two island. Cocos Island is approximately 1 hours flight from Christmas Island.

This is a usable article. It has information for getting in as well as some complete entries for restaurants and hotels. An adventurous person could use this article, but please plunge forward and help it grow!